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ESRB Ratings Add Violence Descriptors 60

Posted by simoniker from the itchy-and-scratchy-fight-and-bite dept.
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an ESRB press release saying they've added four new violence-specific content descriptors to their voluntary but near-universally used age/suitability ratings system for games. These descriptors are "Cartoon Violence, defined as 'violent actions involving cartoon-like characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted'... Fantasy Violence, defined as 'violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life.'... Intense Violence, defined as 'graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death'... Sexual Violence, defined as 'depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts.'" There's also mention of icon redesign to include recommended age ranges and new, more prominent labels on the back of game boxes, presumably in response to legal challenges regarding violent games.
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ESRB Ratings Add Violence Descriptors More

ESRB Ratings Add Violence Descriptors

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  • Who cares about violence descriptors? (Score:5, Funny)

    by lightspawn ( 155347 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @12:45PM (#6304441) Homepage
    We want sex descriptors!

    How are we supposed to figure out what games (or movies) to get?

    • Sex descriptors: Japanese version (Score:5, Funny)

      by Atario ( 673917 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @01:52PM (#6305103) Homepage

      Applicable to games, videos, and movies.

      Intersexuality -- women having and/or being induced to have penises, permanently or temporarily

      Fantasy Orgasms -- orgasms causing unusual physical effects, e.g. explosions, comas, alteration of the physical laws of the universe, etc. (also covers women having one or more orgasms upon their first time ever having sex)

      Universal Bisexuality -- takes place in a universe where everyone is bisexual (or omnisexual, in the case of universes with more than one sex)

      Psychosexual Geneva Syndrome -- women who are raped fall in love with their rapists and live happily ever after

      Disingenuous Captioning -- textual notes appear at random, "explaining" that the situation is not as it seems, e.g. "They aren't really sisters, they just call each other that"

      Extreme Demographic Imbalance -- more than 90% of the characters are of a specific gender, specific range of bra cup sizes, specific taste in sexual activity, etc.

      Comedicus Interruptus -- sexual scenes are interrupted by random slapstick or other broad comedy

      Dysfunctional Ending -- story ends on inexplicable downer note, or ending seems to take place but then continues, or innumerable storylines are left unresolved

      Self-Deprecation By Proxy -- one or more characters are chided or chide themselves for consuming too many games/videos/movies of this type

      • (or omnisexual, in the case of universes with more than one sex)

        Arrrg. That should be "more than two sexes".

        (Don't proofread with your brain in neutral, kids.)

      • Psychosexual Geneva Syndrome -- women who are raped fall in love with their rapists and live happily ever after.

        Actually, when a person such as Patty Hearst gets captured and works for their captors or holds a deep emotional bond, it is called Stockholm Syndrome.

        Not trying to be a jerk or a Nazi... but you were really close to being on the money on that one... I just read a lot on it once. Thought it was fascinating.

        • Dammit. Again, note to self: remember to put your brain in gear before posting.

          Right you are. Oh well, one famous European city in a country that starts with "Sw" or another, what's the difference, right?

          (Everyone, please edit your mirror of my important proto-faq appropriately.)

  • Does this include getting whipped by a leather-clad female at the local club The Inferno a few Saturdays ago?

  • Rape? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by GuyMannDude ( 574364 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @01:05PM (#6304652) Journal

    Maybe I'm a little out of touch with gaming these days but is there really so much rape in videogames these days that it deserves it's own category?

    GMD

    • Re:Rape? (Score:5, Informative)

      by mhesseltine ( 541806 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @01:26PM (#6304850) Homepage Journal
      Maybe I'm a little out of touch with gaming these days but is there really so much rape in videogames these days that it deserves it's own category?

      Well, maybe not yet, but with GTA III and Vice City (where you can pickup prostitutes, etc.) they may just be preparing for sequels involving more of these story lines.

      • Phantasmagoria (roberta williams - sierra title) had a rape scene in it.

        Steven V.

      • Maybe I'm a little out of touch with gaming these days but is there really so much rape in videogames these days that it deserves it's own category?

        Well, maybe not yet, but with GTA III and Vice City (where you can pickup prostitutes, etc.) they may just be preparing for sequels involving more of these story lines.

        Are you serious?!?
        Are you unable to distinguish between scenarios in which you "pickup prostitutes, etc." and rape? (Or is this just well-disguised flamebait?)

        Either way, I suspect the folk

        • Either way, I suspect the folks at Rockstar North have enough sense not to cross that line.

          Why not?

        • Yes, I can distinguish between picking up a hooker and raping her. It's probably just a bad choice of terms that the rating board chose to use in describing the nature of the content. I highly doubt that a game will come out where a key element of gameplay is to rape a character.

        • Are you serious?!? Are you unable to distinguish between scenarios in which you "pickup prostitutes, etc." and rape? (Or is this just well-disguised flamebait?)

          He wouldn't be the only one who can't. According to CBN, Vice City is a game that simulates the rape and murder of prostitutes. [cbn.com] (Seek to 15:20)

          • According to CBN, Vice City is a game that simulates the rape and murder of prostitutes [cbn.com]. (Seek to 15:20)

            Hehe. Yup. Right-wing talk-radio host Michael Savage has repeatedly referred to GTA3 as "that game that rewards you for murdering policemen and judges". It's not just the "right", though -- Phil Donahue ran a FUD-filled report on his short-lived show. That's why I mentioned "authoritarian" in my original post. Issues like this are on a different political axis (authoritarian/libertarian) than we're use
    • It's something that's been done in the past, and is probably more common in Japanese titles. Either way, it's so disturbing to certain groups of people that it certainly gets a mention in movie and TV ratings, so it's no big surprise to see the ESRB adding it (and the game that's been mentioned here was quite controversial because of it).
      • It is just sad that rape is involved in video games. Do they really have to include that to sell these games.

        • Re:Rape? (Score:2, Insightful)

          by PainKilleR-CE ( 597083 )
          It is just sad that rape is involved in video games.

          It's always a controversial issue when it comes up. It's in movies and TV shows on occasion and brings up significantly less controversy in either medium. It's often a significant event in a story which can drive a character (in a good way or bad way), yet people tend to have a much more emotional reaction to it than to things like murder and torture, and so it's less often used in any medium.

          Do they really have to include that to sell these games

          I

  • I'm curious (Score:5, Funny)

    by KDan ( 90353 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @01:06PM (#6304659) Homepage
    How explicit will the icons be? They have to be clear and self-explanatory, right? *g*

    Daniel

  • Is it really a bad thing? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Suicide ( 45320 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @01:53PM (#6305112) Homepage
    I don't have kids, I research my games before I buy them, to see if they are any good. I really couldn't care how violent or non-violent they are, as long as its appropriate for the game. And I really wouldn't object to more descriptive labeling of the content. It wouldn't effect me.

    But a parent might not have done their research about all the games out there before heading to the store. Maybe some people are ok with violence of certain levels, but not others. Either way, what people want to buy is their choice, and more descriptive labels never hurt, and lets be honest, even the MPAA ratings aren't enough any more, thats why there a little section listing why a movie got the rating it did.
    • If St. Louis is any indication, parents don't do any research *now* - and that includes reading the existing ESRB label on the games they buy for their kids.

      Instead, they'd rather the government tell them what their kids can or cannot play.

      If parents don't bother keeping an eye on what their kids play now, what's the point?
    • New label layout for future game rating system...

      ENTERTAINMENT FACTS
      ---
      Serving Media - (DVD)
      Servings Per Container 1
      System PS2

      Initial Load Time (45 seconds)
      ---

      Total Fun 55%
      Replay Value 20%
      Number of Players 1-2

      CONTAINS .5% or less of the following: Plot, Originality.

      CONTAINS: Sex, Violence, Adult Language, Comic Mischeif, Total Disregard for Authority, Depictions of Criminal Acts, Beastiality, Explosions, Flashing Lights, Repetitive Music, Poor Voice Acting, Cheese FMV (May contain Sex, Violence, Adult

  • this is good (Score:4, Informative)

    by ArmorFiend ( 151674 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @02:05PM (#6305199) Homepage Journal
    Breaking down the violence this way is a good thing, in fact it will probably end up making video games look less violent than movies. Since movies tend to build the characters up a bit before their brains get splattered against the wall. Well excepting "Attack of the clones", where the clone army (which we don't care about) fights the mechanic army (which we also don't care about).

    But I digress.

    A point, a point, I was going to make a point...

    Ah, what about publishers that want a violent-er rating to appeal to an older audience? E.g. the original Wipeout for PS1 had a "mature" rating for "violence". The only violence in the game was firing weapons from hovercraft to hovercraft, and even then the only consequence of a direct hit was slowing the enemy down. How violent is that? Not at all. They just didn't want their cyberpunk game to get labeled with the kiss-of-death "appropriate for all ages" moniker.

    • Re:this is good (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      I dont think the M rating in games or the R rating in movies works the same way as the "Explicit Content" thing does for records.
      E-T games tend to do better than M (GTA excepting) and most studios will tone things down to get a PG-13 when they can. Its not a kiss-of-death, its actually the marketplace (probably accidently) voting with its dollar to keep mature themes in context. The content rating does seems to effect rap and new metal records, though. They would sound silly without the violence and sexi
      • The content rating does seems to effect rap and new metal records, though. They would sound silly without the violence and sexism.

        I think that was his point. Some games would seem pretty silly if they were released with an E rating. Imagine an E-rated version of GTA, for example. The game might have done just as well, but then again, maybe not.

        As for the Explicit Lyrics/Content stickers on albums, there's really no push to keep from getting one. The only real push is to release a 'clean' version for Wal-

  • This is all pointless... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Alkaiser ( 114022 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @03:42PM (#6306135) Homepage
    ...seeing as how the ESRB slapped the "Nudity" descriptor onto Dead or Alive: Extreme Beach Volleyball when there was no nudity in it.

    Very skimpy clothing, yes, near nudity, yes, but no actual nudity...and the ESRB decription is VERY clear on this:

    ""Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity.

    Partial Nudity - Brief and mild depictions of nudity.    "

    DOA: XVB doesn't fall into either of these categories...it does however fall under:

    ""Mature Sexual Themes - Provocative material, possibly including partial nudity."

    So why did the ESRB choose to blatantly lie about DOA: XVB? Nobody knows. So, I don't care how descriptive the SRB make their tags, becausee they don't use them properly. Might as well just slap, "For Kids of All Ages" on every game, since you're just going to lie about them anyway.
    • I'd heard that it was the pre-rendered intro on DoA:XBV that made the ESRB slap the more restrictive rating on the game - not sure if anyone knows that for sure, but there was allegedly a last-minute ratings change on the title.

      It's certainly true that one of the characters is naked for a fair few seconds as she dives from the cliff-top in the intro, not that you can see anything much. But the game itself, odd as it is, doesn't seem as seditious and evil as, well, blowing the heads off things. Anyhow, I b

    • Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @05:40PM (#6307042)
      Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • I think the video for the "Dream Twister"-secret project was much worse. Or the one for the citizen's defense force.
        • That game had some geniunely disturbing moments in it; there were things there that left you with a feeling of deep unease. Hell, the voiceover for the Punishment Sphere base upgrade sent shivers down my spine; it described how the torture was as much in watching and listening to your family and friends in pain as it was in being physically tortured yourself.

          The whole game had some interesting themes about how society would use technology in the future; the "living city" secret project swallowing up the d

    • Ah, but if you watch the opening video, you get to watch Christie go skinny dipping.

    • Hey, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance got "Partial Nudity," and there is one section of the game where the main character (Raiden, not Snake) is running around naked. In Substance, they added a VR mode calling "Streaking Mode" where you run around naked and try to sneak past the guards.

      And he's nude - no clothing, not much other way to describe it. I'd think the cutscene and the gameplay section would count as "prolonged" - it's not like he's naked off-camera while changing or something. I suppose they fi

  • The entertainment industry's most complete ratings (Score:5, Informative)

    by AvantLegion ( 595806 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @05:24PM (#6306927) Journal
    Video gaming's ESRB ratings are more complete and descriptive than any other industry's. And the gaming industry has voluntarily submitted to having a ratings board. It took motion pictures many years to get to the point of decent industry-regulated ratings, and even still, they're vague and non-descriptive.

    One reason Lieberman and torch-waving "me too" followers called off the dogs was because of how complete and detailed the ESRB ratings have become. To Liebermen's credit, he admits and praises this publically.

    I am not a parent yet, but in a few years, I will appreciate having a tool like that to judge content by. This is what content control needs to be like - non-intrusive and voluntary, but complete and descriptive. As most children can tell you, rules like "no R rated movies, period" become embarrassing when all of their friends get to watch certain R-rated movies on a case-by-case basis. A descriptive rating system makes it easier to make better judgement calls. It's not a be-all end-all, and some people will always think it's too harsh/lenient, but it's far better than nothing.

    • One reason Lieberman and torch-waving "me too" followers called off the dogs was because of how complete and detailed the ESRB ratings have become. To Liebermen's credit, he admits and praises this publically.

      No, the reason Lieberman stopped waving torches is because it looks rediculous when you're a candidate for VP or President. He's done a complete turn-around on a number of issues, but especially censorship. The ESRB ratings were there before Lieberman even realized there were violent video games out

      • The ESRB ratings were there before Lieberman even realized there were violent video games out there

        Not true. Lieberman's big torch to wave - Night Trap - was released in 1992. The ESRB was not established until 1994. And late in 1994, Lieberman stated that the ESRB was "the most comprehensive system of any entertainment medium in this country."

        In case your math sucks, 1994 is WELL before Lieberman was anywhere in the VP picture.

        And yes, he has *continued* that stance since then.

        But don't let me co

        • http://www.senate.gov/~lieberman/press/02/12/2002 C 19808.html

          Lieberman said a new round of congressional hearings should be held to focus attention to the problem -- particularly the retail industry's resistance to adopting an industry-wide policy for restricting the sale of M-rated games to children, as Lieberman and Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) have urged -- as well as to raise parental awareness of the growing body of research documenting the threat video violence poses to public health.

          In case you can't r
    • I don't really think the MPAA cares...keeping up with the times isn't one of their priorities. for example, if the MPAA is going to rate their movies, should they not re-rate them as time goes on for subsequent releases? I don't really think most R-rated movies from the pre PG-13 days would be higher than PG-13 anymore, if that. And let's not forget the huge publicity gained by the words, "frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." which wouldn't even turn a head nowadays.

      So I think the real root of the pr

  • Ratings are stupid (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 26, 2003 @07:44PM (#6307747)
    I grew up with violent video games. When I got my guts splattered on the wall in games like Quake, I realized that it isn't a good idea to act that way, because I died a lot.

  • Didn't the RSAC do this kind of thing back when it was used to rate games? It had various categories, like violence or sexual content, and included 'levels' for each category.

    As far as rating systems go, I liked RSAC, because it didn't tell you who the game would be appropriate for, it told you the facts and let you make your own decision. Whatever happened to it?

    • The game industry decided to go with the ESRB system and is only slowly coming back to realizing that information is more importartant and we need more than just 'M - for mature audiences/17+' to make a truly informed decision about games. The RSAC was pretty much dismantled once everyone decided to use the ESRB, and it took the ESRB this long to realize that the RSAC system had at least something going for it.

      Still, without an age rating, it's very unlikely that Congress would've continued to leave the ga

  • What the People want (Score:5, Funny)

    by wynterwynd ( 265580 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @07:51PM (#6307771)
    While they're introducing new ways of defining your perversity of choice, why not come up with USEFUL ratings labels for games? Such as:

    VR - Violent Rage - frustrating levels may provoke fits of rage and destruction that could endanger your controller.

    MMP - Media Marketing Project - 2 30 second clips from the movie or tv show and a bad clone of a game you played 5 years ago with new skins.

    BHC - Blinding Headache Complexity - You write assembly code to take a break from the game.

    NHAR - Non-Human Appendages Required - The key/button bindings in this game would baffle a Yoga guru in mastering them.

    FR3D - Failed Resurrection in 3D - This game is the product of a last-ditch effort of a company past it's prime to squeeze the final drops of blood out of it's only success. And it's in 3D!

    TF - Text Fetish - Break out the reading glasses and pray you can skip cutscenes. This game makes Tolstoy look like a brochure writer.

    TOD - Translator On Drugs - This greatest English port of game from foreign are all the best easy to reading. You have no chance survive. Make your time.

    Just a few suggestions :)

    Wynter
    -----------
    • VR - Violent Rage - frustrating levels may provoke fits of rage and destruction that could endanger your controller.

      In the words of my brother, "Nnnooooo!! I Dragon Punched you!! AAAAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!!!"
      *crash*

  • Human cloning?! (Score:3, Funny)

    by MarkusQ ( 450076 ) on Thursday June 26, 2003 @11:26PM (#6308645) Journal

    an ESRB press release

    Wow! So human cloning is finally a reality?!

    -- MarkusQ (aka MQR)

    P.S. *sigh* They aren't giving out The Most Obscure Joke Of The Year Award anymore, are they?

    • an ESRB press release

      Wow! So human cloning is finally a reality?!

      Come on, do you really think scientists would start there when creating a gnu person from scratch?

  • Considering that more families than ever are going to nudist resorts [time.com], shouldn't there be a descriptor to account for this? It might even let a game keep an "E" or "T" rating, as opposed to sexual themes and rape which get an instant "M".

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